James L. “Jim” Whyte, former vice president and general manager of the Amarillo Globe-News, died Sept. 2 in Plano of a heart-related illness. He was 85.

Whyte, who worked at the Globe-News from 1972 to 1982, went on to serve as vice president and general manager of the Florida-Times Union from 1982 until his retirement in 1989. The Amarillo Globe-News and the Jacksonville, Fla.-based Florida Times-Union are owned by Morris Communications Co., headquartered in Augusta, Ga.

“Dad absolutely loved Amarillo,” said son Jamie Whyte of Denver. “More than anything, he loved the people of Amarillo. He became a community leader right out of the chute and was greeted with tremendous friendliness and open arms.”

Jim Whyte held chief executive positions with three Morris newspapers during his 23 years with the media company, including a stint as vice president and general manager of the Savannah (Ga.) News-Press.

“I think Dad thought of himself as a newspaper publisher until the day he died. He loved being part of the press — he loved the stress of the deadlines,” Jamie Whyte said. “He loved the energy around being the center of information.”

Jim Whyte was born in Detroit in 1927 and served in the Army during World War II. He earned a degree in journalism from the University of Miami and worked for newspapers in Miami and Hollywood, Fla., from 1955 to 1966.

While in Amarillo, Jim Whyte served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and was a member of First Presbyterian Church, his son said. Jim Whyte was particularly proud of the newspaper’s watchdog reporting during the tenure of former District Attorney Tom Curtis, Jamie Whyte said.

“He was a good newspaper man, a very positive person, very active in the community,” said former Globe-News operations director Harry Bartlett.

“And as long as you did your job, you got along with him.”

Jim Whyte was a pilot who once owned several planes and was proud of his Irish heritage, his son said. Jim Whyte’s father was born in Ireland and his mother in Canada.

Jim Whyte moved to the Houston area in 2001 and Plano in 2003. His wife of 62 years, Doris, died in 2009.

He is survived by his second wife, Melinda Rogers Whyte; two sons, Jamie Whyte and Mike Whyte of Houston; a daughter, Martha Diaz of Plano; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.